Beau Peep Notice Board
Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Diane CBPFC on May 05, 2023, 06:07:33 PM
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Not only is May 5th a chance to have some Mexican food, but I see it is also National Cartoonist's Day.
Happy Cartoonist's Day to some of the nicest chaps on the planet.
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There are 'days' that promote Mexican food? Excellent! On behalf of all burrito-loving cartoonists, thank you, Diane!
This was my contribution for today - a reworking of something I first drew over a decade ago, completed whilst suffering a bout of Repetitive Ennui Syndrome listening to today's main talk radio topics (namely tomorrow's Coronation and the English Local Council Election results). I can't begin to tell you...... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
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You wouldn't believe how little fuss is being made in Canada over the coronation, the Feds are doing like one hour in the park, our Alberta Lieutenant Governor whose JOB it is to represent the crown, finally announced free entry to a botanic garden, some pipers etc but not until the 13th.
I am making a big fuss myself :-) Bunting and sugar cookies. Hubby is a grumpy non-royalist - but stuff him I say.
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This is my kitchen tribute to our Gardener King.
I am the only royalist I know, but i don't let that curb my enthusiasm.
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The latest Private Eye has a "coronation special" out this week. The front page is basically white with large black lettering which reads "MAN IN HAT SITS ON CHAIR". That basically sums it up for me---I haven't watched a second of it.
Diane, I once happened to be in Denver when Cinco de Mayo was taking place. It seemed to involve hundreds of drunken young people singing and vomiting in the streets. I got quite homesick for Scotland.
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:D The contrast is palpable in my immediate neighbourhood. This time last year, I was having to politely decline invitations from my neighbours to join in their 'garden party' in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. On the main day, there was bunting aplenty all round the courtyard, and people making merry, including one elderly neighbour who landed the part of actually dressing up as Her Madge and leading the festivities. Lots of food and alcohol was enjoyed by all those I watched from my window, and I was pleased they were having a good time.
Today... so far... absolutely nothing! Perhaps they're watching the telly and about to spring into action any minute, but there's been no pre-publicity of the street party like last year, and no-one's mentioned a thing. I'm off to watch my football team give Roger's a damned good thrashing this afternoon, with hopefully zero mention of obscene hereditary wealth and privilege all afternoon.
Times, they are a-changing... (but good on you, Diane!)
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You had to mention the football.
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The latest Private Eye has a "coronation special" out this week. The front page is basically white with large black lettering which reads "MAN IN HAT SITS ON CHAIR". That basically sums it up for me---I haven't watched a second of it.
Diane, I once happened to be in Denver when Cinco de Mayo was taking place. It seemed to involve hundreds of drunken young people singing and vomiting in the streets. I got quite homesick for Scotland.
And some people wait a whole year to show a jar of mayonnaise in their sink on Facebook and think that will do for effort.
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What I find amusing is that anti-monarchist husbands are not above eating the crown sugar cookies.
I made cookies thinking some of our kids would come home - but we are in quite lot of trouble in northern Alberta with wildfires. Highways are even closed. Hubby got to drive down a closed highway yesterday as he was volunteering driving a water tanker out to the firefighters and saw houses burned down. More than half the highway is out between us and two of our kids - something like 70KM of highway.
Scary times. I donated dog cages yesterday to the pet evacuation center and have offered up our spare bedroom today. Hopefully we will get the rain forecast for tomorrow.
I should say the whole of our local Indian Reservation was evacuated 1500+ people.
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That sounds terrifying, Diane. (The fires, not the cookies). Be safe and well done to you both for lending a hand.
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Well since that post, a second fire started and we ourselves were put on standby notice - just the other side of the highway from us were put on compulsory evacuation.
I loaded up essentials and photos and prepped our dog crates ready to skedaddle if necessary, and slept in my clothes in case we got the knock on the door. The skies seem clearer this morning but the highway closure and two local fires are still reported as out of control. The situation is bad all over northern Alberta.
My one son coming from the south as he did, was able to come home so he was able to help out quite a bit. (he also ate a jar of crown cookies lol)
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I've done an Albertan rain dance!
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I've just caught up, and am rain dancing also. I hope it torrents! Sounds awful. Keep us posted, Diane, as and when you can.
On a slightly lighter note, I can fully understand why the anti-monarchists are scoffing the cookies - principles should always take a back seat to home baking! They look delicious.
Back to a more serious note... Roger - I'm sorry! I was fully expecting to eat my words today, given the respective form of both teams of late. 1-0 may not normally be ranked as a "damned good thrashing", but from St Johnstone, it's a massacre... I was dreading yesterday, but in the end, it could only have been improved by a jar of Crown Cookies at half time.
Stay safe, Diane!
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Thanks for the rain dancing - it worked. :-)
It has been gently raining most of the day which will help a lot. Our two closest fires are still listed as out of control - the one with the evacuation notice for land just 300m away is called GWF023. Good news is that a larger fire stopping people going to the city is now under control and they have opened up the highway again. Firefighters from other provinces are flying in to help.
I am hopeful at this point but we do have a week of sunny weather forecast so if you guys wouldn't mind shaking your booties a little more...
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"much progress has been made and, at this time, not considered a threat to the public"
News tonight on our closest wildfire :-)
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Still dancing with fingers crossed! Let's hope the danger has passed.
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Great news indeed, Diane. I've toned down the dancing to a genteel shuffle, but ready to ramp it up again whenever required. Rather enjoyable, really.
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I am hoping for the best at this point but still have go bags packed until the fire is officially out which could take days if not a week - its quite smoky today now that its stopped raining, but the wind has died down. The high winds the week leading up to the fires was a big part of the problem. There are still 103 active wildfires with firefighters flying in from other provinces to help.
Thank you for the rain dances - they are taken seriously here with 1500 Cree evacuated off the reserve
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Update on fire: things got a whole lot worse - not personally, we are in the same waiting around position we have been in, living just 300m from the mandatory evacuation line - however our town 13 KM south of us, were we would have evacuated TO was evacuated itself 3 hours ago, this is Valleyview if you are looking on a map.
It was quite a shock to hear the town was evacuated before us, it all depends on which way the wind blows.
Anyway, I should think of packing up my Beau Peep comic books just in case.
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This is horrific! I had assumed/hoped everything was probably back to 'normal' after your previous couple of posts, at least in terms of threat level.
I hope all is resolved very soon, Diane - I'm stepping up the rain dancing again. Please do keep us up to date as and when you can, and stay safe, whatever that entails.
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Thanks Tarqs, until we actually get a notice it is hard to keep up preparedness as its been 10 days now. First you get notice to prepare, then you get a one hours notice, usually you get a day to prepare.
It is a little weird, our nearest emergency service or in fact any service is now 75km away, the highway going past us is practically silent. They had to evacuate two senior centers, a small hospital and 75+ dogs and cats that were being housed in town from the evacuation at the Indian Reservation the week before. The world has gone crazy around me, I'm planting tomatoes, peas tomorrow.
What else can you do.
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things are looking hopeful that the fire is contained - they made a 11KM barrier between the fire and the town plowing up farmers fields etc
I am taking today off alert mode :-)
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Good to hear, Diane, but I'm still dancing for now... well, shuffling my feet under my desk, at least.
These are worrying times. I'm currently looking out of my window at a beautiful sunlit park scene (could all change in 20 minutes - it's still that 'four seasons a day' time of year in Scotland). I can't remember ever before looking at such a glorious sight as a potential problem in the near future, beyond having to wear 'Factor Duffle Coat' sun cream and a hat.
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And three days after being evacuated, the townspeople are being allowed home (on one hours notice) at noon - the fire wall seems to be holding but it is still listed officially as out of control.
Dreading the westerly winds on Friday, but if we survive that then we have FOUR days of light rain forecast :-)
I love the UK gardening shows (plants I can't grow here), they have been talking about moving to drought tolerant pants and trees in recent years. It is happening slowly, but its happening.
You may as well just wear the duffle coat Tarqs - it could get chilly later lol
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I know it was a typo, and I'm being a tad childish, but I chuckled over the notion of "drought tolerant pants".
Fingers crossed and feet tapping for Friday!
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:-) - that should have been a xmas joke what with it having no L
The official status of our two closest fires is still "out of control" but the NASA maps really show them beaten back and we have just had a nice amount of rain and a very rainy day forecast for tomorrow. Apparently Alberta has had the worst air quality in the world.
I am like 97% sure we are out of danger from evacuating but not unpacking the bags until the official status changes.
We went to the city today (first time I've seen the fire damage up close) by the reserve where the first fire first started (May 5) and the blackened ground has the most vivid green grass covering most of it - the carbon cycle at work.
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Great news, Diane. I'd like to think that our rain dances helped! Fingers crossed that you're all now safe.
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I've always loved rain since I was knee-high to a hydrologist. Even more so now!
I've also always loved the colour-combo of vivid green against black. I remember playing football against a team that wore vertical green and black stripes when I was in my teens, and wanting to play for them just so I could wear that kit. I like that idea even more now too, after your moving example of the carbon cycle - you've always had a way with words, Diane.
Enjoy your rain, the grass, and your improving air quality!
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Thanks both for the kind thoughts. I plan to slowly put things back to normal this week but I feel like I could sleep for a week after being on high alert since the 6th.
Its Victoria Day in Canada (yes, the British queen) so its the day I make strawberry tarts. Victoria Day usually marks the end of the frost season so it is a big gardening and camping weekend.
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Yay! Happy Victoria Day, Diane!
I'm curious to know the connection between Queen Vic and strawberry tarts... but perhaps I shouldn't ask.
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Officially "under control" :-)
Strawberry tarts are just our own family tradition - I've been making them for Victoria Day and Canada Day (July 1) for over 30 years. Put them on a plate and encircle them with real whipped cream from a can.
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Okay, they look really nice. Don't give me ideas.
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Dribbling uncontrollably all over my keyboard now. But you didn't want to know that...
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Dribbling uncontrollably all over my keyboard now. But you didn't want to know that...
Did it change when you saw the tarts?